Vladimir Kramnik of Russia was victor both on and off the board over Bulgarian Veselin Topalov in their match for the unified title of world champion which finished in Elista, Russia last month. Gamesmanship threatened to overshadow the chess when Kramnik forfeited with the White pieces in game five in protest over the changing of the agreed conditions by the match disputes committee. Topalov's delegation had complained of frequent visits to the toilet by Kramnik during the games with the clear implication of cheating by receiving computer assistance. The committee comprised of FIDE officials ineptly upheld the complaint causing the ensuing debacle. FIDE president Kirsan Illyumzhinov was forced to intercede, sacking the committee and reversing their decision. But when the default had to stand many thought the match would be abandoned.
Kramnik then displayed outstanding sportsmanship by resuming the match, which was eventually tied 6-6 after the scheduled 12 games, with three wins apiece and six draws. The rules then called for a four-game rapid time-limit playoff match which Kramnik won 2½-1½ , winning games 2 and 4 to add Topalov's title of FIDE World Champion to his existing Classical World Champion title. In doing so Kramnik gained many more fans through his conduct during the match under the most trying circumstances, and the chess world was spared the controversy of legal action if Topalov had won.
Because the atmosphere of the main match was extremely tense, most of the decisive games featured mistakes that would ordinarily be rare at the highest level. By contrast, the faster time-limit of the playoff seemed to ease some of the tension and the games were very high quality for their type, reflecting each player's different strengths: Kramnik's deep positional understanding, and Topalov's razor-edged attacking flair. Today's game is the second of the playoff and features vintage Kramnik with the white pieces outplaying his opponent from a balanced position with a delicate touch.
1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.Nc3 e6 5.e3 Nbd7 6.Qc2 Bd6 7.b3 ---
This world championship was unusual in that all the games started 1d2 d5 2 c4 and most continued with the Slav Defence – a solid yet double-edged choice for Black. This being a Rapid game Kramnik avoids the sharpest lines 6 Bd3 or here 7 g4!? in favour of a comfortable middle game position. 7. --- O-O 8.Be2 b6 9.O-O Bb7 10.Bb2 Re8 11.Rad1 Qe7 12.Rfe1 Rac8 13.Bd3!? ---
Cat-and-mouse play, inviting Black to make the typical Slav ...e5 counterthrust while keeping tension in the position. 13. --- e5 14.e4 dxc4 15.Bxc4 b5 16.Bf1 g6
Since Black's active plan involves a future ... exd4 folowed by a queenside pawn advance, this move prevents a white knight coming to f5 after the reply Nxd4. However White immediately targets the weakened kingside dark squares. 17.Qd2! Rcd8 18.Qg5 a6 19.h3 exd4 20.Nxd4 Qe5
White threatened 21 Nf5 and if 20 ... Qf8, then 21 Nf5 Be5 (else 22 Nxb5!) 22 f4 Qc5+ 23 Re3 Bxc3 24 Bxc3 Nxe4 25 Qh6! and to avoid mate Black must give up the queen with 25 ... Qxe3+ 26 Nxe3 Nxc3 leaving White with the marginal material advantage of Q vs R + N + P and the attack. So Topalov forces the exchange of queens to a level position. Unfortunately for him Kramnik is the recognised world expert in the kind of queenless middlegame that results. 21.Qxe5 Nxe5 22.Nc2! g5
Each side's plan is advance their respective pawn majority, so this prevents 23 f4. White now maneouvres subtly to take control of the d5 square with his pieces. 23.Bc1 h6 24.Be3 c5 25.f3 Bf8 26.Bf2! Bc8 27.Ne3 Be6 28.Ned5 Bxd5
The knight on d5 was too strong to be allowed to stay, but in return White gains a powerful passed d-pawn. 29.exd5 Ned7 30.Rxe8 Rxe8 31.a4 b4?! 32.Ne4! Nxe4 33.fxe4 Nf6
If 33 ... Rxe4 34 Bxa6 Bd6 35 a5 threatening Bc8, a6 etc. Or 33 ... a5 34 Bb5 Rd8 35 Bg3 Nf6 36 Bc7 Rc8 37 d6 and wins material. 34.d6 Nxe4 35.d7 Rd8 36.Bxa6 f5 37.a5 Bg7 38.Bc4+ Kf8 39.a6 Nxf2 40.Kxf2 Bd4+
The last hope to stop the two passed pawns – but it is refuted by an exchange sacrifice. 41.Rxd4! cxd4 42.a7 Ke7 43.Bd5 Kxd7 44.a8=Q Rxa8 45.Bxa8
At this level White will make no mistake in converting this won ending – even at a fast time limit, so Black resigned.
Kramnik becomes unified World Champion
Problem: Black to play and mate in 3.
Vladimir Kramnik of Russia was victor both on and off the board over Bulgarian Veselin Topalov in their match for the unified title of world champion which finished in Elista, Russia last month. Gamesmanship threatened to overshadow the chess when Kramnik forfeited with the White pieces in game five in protest over the changing of the agreed conditions by the match disputes committee. Topalov's delegation had complained of frequent visits to the toilet by Kramnik during the games with the clear implication of cheating by receiving computer assistance. The committee comprised of FIDE officials ineptly upheld the complaint causing the ensuing debacle. FIDE president Kirsan Illyumzhinov was forced to intercede, sacking the committee and reversing their decision. But when the default had to stand many thought the match would be abandoned.
Kramnik then displayed outstanding sportsmanship by resuming the match, which was eventually tied 6-6 after the scheduled 12 games, with three wins apiece and six draws. The rules then called for a four-game rapid time-limit playoff match which Kramnik won 2½-1½ , winning games 2 and 4 to add Topalov's title of FIDE World Champion to his existing Classical World Champion title. In doing so Kramnik gained many more fans through his conduct during the match under the most trying circumstances, and the chess world was spared the controversy of legal action if Topalov had won.
Because the atmosphere of the main match was extremely tense, most of the decisive games featured mistakes that would ordinarily be rare at the highest level. By contrast, the faster time-limit of the playoff seemed to ease some of the tension and the games were very high quality for their type, reflecting each player's different strengths: Kramnik's deep positional understanding, and Topalov's razor-edged attacking flair. Today's game is the second of the playoff and features vintage Kramnik with the white pieces outplaying his opponent from a balanced position with a delicate touch.
1.d4 d5
2.c4 c6
3.Nf3 Nf6
4.Nc3 e6
5.e3 Nbd7
6.Qc2 Bd6
7.b3 ---
This world championship was unusual in that all the games started 1d2 d5 2 c4 and most continued with the Slav Defence – a solid yet double-edged choice for Black. This being a Rapid game Kramnik avoids the sharpest lines 6 Bd3 or here 7 g4!? in favour of a comfortable middle game position.
7. --- O-O
8.Be2 b6
9.O-O Bb7
10.Bb2 Re8
11.Rad1 Qe7
12.Rfe1 Rac8
13.Bd3!? ---
Cat-and-mouse play, inviting Black to make the typical Slav ...e5 counterthrust while keeping tension in the position.
13. --- e5
14.e4 dxc4
15.Bxc4 b5
16.Bf1 g6
Since Black's active plan involves a future ... exd4 folowed by a queenside pawn advance, this move prevents a white knight coming to f5 after the reply Nxd4. However White immediately targets the weakened kingside dark squares.
17.Qd2! Rcd8
18.Qg5 a6
19.h3 exd4
20.Nxd4 Qe5
White threatened 21 Nf5 and if 20 ... Qf8, then 21 Nf5 Be5 (else 22 Nxb5!) 22 f4 Qc5+ 23 Re3 Bxc3 24 Bxc3 Nxe4 25 Qh6! and to avoid mate Black must give up the queen with 25 ... Qxe3+ 26 Nxe3 Nxc3 leaving White with the marginal material advantage of Q vs R + N + P and the attack. So Topalov forces the exchange of queens to a level position. Unfortunately for him Kramnik is the recognised world expert in the kind of queenless middlegame that results.
21.Qxe5 Nxe5
22.Nc2! g5
Each side's plan is advance their respective pawn majority, so this prevents 23 f4. White now maneouvres subtly to take control of the d5 square with his pieces.
23.Bc1 h6
24.Be3 c5
25.f3 Bf8
26.Bf2! Bc8
27.Ne3 Be6
28.Ned5 Bxd5
The knight on d5 was too strong to be allowed to stay, but in return White gains a powerful passed d-pawn.
29.exd5 Ned7
30.Rxe8 Rxe8
31.a4 b4?!
32.Ne4! Nxe4
33.fxe4 Nf6
If 33 ... Rxe4 34 Bxa6 Bd6 35 a5 threatening Bc8, a6 etc. Or 33 ... a5 34 Bb5 Rd8 35 Bg3 Nf6 36 Bc7 Rc8 37 d6 and wins material.
34.d6 Nxe4
35.d7 Rd8
36.Bxa6 f5
37.a5 Bg7
38.Bc4+ Kf8
39.a6 Nxf2
40.Kxf2 Bd4+
The last hope to stop the two passed pawns – but it is refuted by an exchange sacrifice.
41.Rxd4! cxd4
42.a7 Ke7
43.Bd5 Kxd7
44.a8=Q Rxa8
45.Bxa8
At this level White will make no mistake in converting this won ending – even at a fast time limit, so Black resigned.
1-0
Solution:1 ... Ne2+! 2 Rxe2 (2 Nxe2 Qg2#) Qh1+! 3 Kxh1 Rf1#.